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THE MARINE RECORD. NEW TUGBOAT ATLAS. Within the last few years the fleet of sea-going tugboats on the Atlantic coast has been augmented by the addi- tion of a number of fine vessels of large size and good power, modern in every particular, the performances of which leave nothing to be desired. They are generally built of steel, propelled with triple expansion engines, and supplied with every necessary adjunct for the proper hand- ling of vessels in tow at sea; steam steering gear, steam towing machines, electric lighting, and all other up-to- date improvements are included in their outfit, and they are not surpassed by any other craft of a like kind in the world. For the following description and cut we are indebted to the courtesy of Seaboard, New York: One of the latest of these heavy tugboats is the Atlas, built by the Harlan & Hollingsworth Co.. at their ship- yard in Wilmington, Del., to the order of the Standard Oil Co., of New York. She is employed solely in sea towing, leaving harbor wotk to the other tugboats owned by the company. The Atlas was designed by Mr. Frank B. King, naval architect, Baltimore, Md. The hull is of steel, 117% ft. length of keel, or 130 ft. in length over all; 25% ft. breadth of beam, and 14% ft. depth of hold. Her draft of water aft is 13 ft. There is oneé triple-expansion engine, with cylinders 14%, 23% and 30 in. in diameter, by 28 in. stroke of pis- ton, to which steam is supplied by a steel boiler of the Scotch type, 13 ft. 9 in. in diameter by 11% ft. in length. It has a total grate surface of 73 sq. ft., and a total heating surface of 2,046 sq. ft. The propeller wheel is 9% ft. in diameter and 13 ft. pitch; it has four blades. oo oe orl AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. AGREEMENT OF 1817—REDUCTION OF NAVAL FORCES UPON THE AMERICAN LAKES. By J. M. Callahan, of John Hopkins University. (Continued. ) Lord Castlereagh proposed to submit the proposals to his government for its consideration, but after the con- ference had ended, Mr. Adams had little hope for even an arrangement to limit the force to be kept in actual service. While Bathurst was the only real warlike man in the ministry, the apparent disinclination of Lord Cast- lereagh, who was probably better disposed than the rest of the ministry, did not leave a favorable indication. Adams felt that the British ministry suspected some strat- egic point to be at the bottom of the proposition. The “frank and unsuspecting confidence’ in which the idea originated had not been appreciated. He desired that peace should be cemented by “that mutual reliance on good faith, far better adapted to the maintenance of na- tional harmony than the jealous and exasperating defiance of complete armor.” On March 21 he renewed the pro- posal to “mutually and equally disarm upon the American lakes;” and, with the hope that it might be entertained in the same sincerely friendly spirit in which it was made, he emphasized the fact that there were abundant securities against the possibility of any sudden attack upon the colonies when a “guarded and cautious policy of Great Britain might fear.” But the debates in Parliament gave little evidence that the proposal would be considered. They were upon the principle of preserving peace by being prepared for war. An element in both countries was urging this policy, not because there was any danger of war, perhaps, but rather to keep up with other lines of development. Adams, in his letter to Lord Castlereagh on March 21, had shown the evil effects of an armed peace on the lakes. Besides the expense, it would “operate as a continual stimulus of suspicion and of ill will’ between the people on the frontier. He believed that the “moral and politi- cal tendency of such a system must be to war and not to peace.” The condition of affairs was certainly not such as to encourage him to expect much consideration of his proposal. Baa ee tga The crisis in Parliament appears to have been passed soon after April 5. On that day Adams wrote that even the murmurs against large establishments had nearly ceased. He was therefore much surprised, a few days later, when Lord Castlereagh requested an interview to inform him that the British government was ready to meet the proposal of the United States ‘‘so far as to avoid everything like a contention between the two parties which should have the strongest force’ on the lakes, and that they had no desire to have any ships in commission or active service except what might be needed “to convey troops occasionally.” It appears that Lord Castlereagh was prepared to enter into an agreement upon the sub- ject, but Adams did not feel like concluding the arrange- ment without further instructions. For this reason it was agreed that the negotiations be transferred to Washing- ton, and that power and instructions should be sent to Mr. Bagot, the British minister to the United States. Adams wanted all the effects of a positive arrangement to begin at once, however. In fact, his letter to Monroe on April 15 shows that he understood that it was “agreed that no new or additional force should be commenced upon the lakes on either side for the present.’”’ But no notes were exchanged to this effect. The United States government would probably, at this time, have been willing to let the force remain unchanged in order to stop the danger of further increase. This evil was the first one to be avoided. Monroe referred to its “dangerous tendency” in a letter to Adams on May 3; and on May 21, before he had heard of the decision of the British government to meet the pro- posal to disarm, in another letter to Mr. Adams, he said that while that proposal expressed the views of the presi- dent, he would, nevertheless, be “satisfied to prevent the augmentation of the force, leaving it on both sides in the present state, and when it is considered that Great Britain has the ascendency on Lake Ontario, which appears more immediately on Canada, and that the United States have Monroe information of the new powers which had been _ given him, but did not enter into a full discussion. Mon- roe wrote Adams on July 8 that he had not yet learned the “nature and extent’ of his power. He had written to President Madison the day before, stating that Bagot had informed him that he would enter upon the subject of naval force after the question of fisheries had been ar- ranged. In his own mind the adjustment of the lake arm- aments was first. Thinking some new ideas on the sub- | ject might have been suggested to the president’s mind since he had approved the instructions sent to Adams,. . Monroe asked him for his sentiments, as well as direc- tions, in the matter. Mr. Madison responded promptly on July 11. He did not see why Mr. Bagot should desire to suspend an arrangement of naval forces until the sub- ject of fisheries had been disposed of. He saw no con- nection between the two; and he said that “an immediate attention to the former is the more necessary, as it is said an enlargement of the British forces, particularly on Erie, is actually going on.” He said it would be far better to suspend this enlargement till negotiations concerning it were concluded. To him it now seemed expedient to stip- — ulate: “(1) That no increase of existing armaments should ~ take place; (2) that existing armaments be laid up; (3) ee that revenue cutters, if allowed at all, be reduced to the minimum of size and force,” On the latter point he thought there might be ad- - NEW OCEAN TUGBOAT ATLAS, BELONGING TO THE STANDARD OIL CO., BUILT BY THE HARLAN & HOLLINGSWORTH CO, it on Erie and Huron, which is important only in rela- tion to the savages within our limits, it is not perceived on what ground it can be refused.” Late events on the lakes, however, soon made it ap- parent that more efficient measures should be adopted. On June 8, General Cass sent the news that British naval officers at Malden had been boarding American vessels which passed there, in search of deserters. None had actually been taken, and the conduct was “presumed not to have the sanction of the British government,” but it was none the less a violation of the rights of the United States, and Adams was asked to present the matter for the early attention of the British government. After his interview with Mr. Adams on April 15, Lord Castlereagh was prompt in notifying Mr. Bagot of his power to act in the matter of arranging naval forces as well as the matter of fisheries. When the news reached America of the apparently sudden change in the attitude of th British government, thére was som speculation as to the probable cause. Was the prosperity of England on the decline? Or was England acting from purely humanitar- ian motives? Or did she fear some new trouble? Dallas wrote President Madison on June 26 that “Lord Castler- eagh’s overtures to arrange the question of armament on the lakes are probably suggested by the apprehension of a new commotion in Europe.” In the early part of July Mr. Bagot gave Secretary vantage in communication with Governor Cass, or with others who were asqutainted with it. He asked: ‘‘What is the practice with respect to jurisdiction on the lakes? Is it common to both parties over the whole, or exclusive to each on its own side of the dividing line?” He sug- gested that the regulation of revenue cutters might be in- fluenced by the question of jurisdiction. Monroe, probably feeling that there was no chance of making any immediate arrangement with Mr. Bagot, had gone to London for a few days to rest from the cares of public toil. It does not appear that he ever communi- cated with General Cass in regard to the question of rev- enue cutters. During the absence of Mr. Monroe in the country it seems that Mr. Bagot had given the matter of naval forces some consideration, and was more ready to discuss the subject. (To be continued.) MARQUETTE TOWING COMPANY. The Marquete Towing Co. will this season have the powerful tugs Edward Gillen and the Calumet stationed at that port for the business of 1897. We learn that Mr. E. C. Williams will be manager of the company and that | nothing will be left undone to give perfect satisfaction to all vessels chartered to or from Marquette. This departure well backed by responsible men, is much to the advantage of the port and the best possible service is already assured.